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Q: I’d been led to understand that you had to have hives to have an allergic reaction, but my daughter, who’s 14, has come through an anaphylactic reaction to nuts (she ate a food product that turned out to contain cashews). She was nauseated, wheezing and the ER said her blood pressure dropped low. But not …

Q: Why do we get hives in a food-allergic reaction? And will they always appear? Dr. Sicherer: Hives, also called urticaria, develop when allergy cells in the skin release chemicals, including histamine, that cause localized swelling, redness and itching. The response looks like a series of mosquito bites, often across an expanse of skin, but various …

Q: My son has peanut and tree nut allergies and we now own a dog, and on weekdays she is walked by a service. As some dog treats contain peanut butter or nut ingredients, should I be concerned about what the walker feeds the dog? Is there any risk of a serous allergic reaction? Dr. …

Q: For the second time, our 1-year-old has broken out in hives after eating. And this time was worse – many hives on his face chest and arms. Our doctor is sending us to an allergist and told us to “keep a food diary.” What should go into one, and what other information is helpful …

Q: My 4-year-old son is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts, and we recently learned he also has grass allergies. Our family doctor said to give him a daily antihistamine during grass-pollen season, but our allergist said not to, because it could mask symptoms of anaphylaxis. What should we do? Dr. Sharma: Many children with …

Q. My daughter loves horseback riding, but has developed an allergy to horses, which ranges from congestion and eye symptoms to even sometimes hives on her hands if she touches a horse. Is there any therapy that would help? Dr. Bassett: The conundrum is to have your daughter enjoy her pastime of riding and still …

Q: Testing has confirmed that our 4-year-old is allergic to cashews and pistachios. (We visited an allergist after our daughter’s reaction to one cashew, in which her eye and lips became swollen and she got hives.) I’m unclear about what other foods she’ll need to avoid. While those are the only nuts she tested allergic …

This website is based on journalist reporting. The information it contains is meant as general guidance and is not to be interpreted as diagnosis and treatment of individual patient conditions. For such specific medical advice, visit an allergist or pulmonologist.